Common name: Arabian Sand Skink
Scientific name: Scincus mitranus
Family: Scincidae

Size:
Body length: 10–15 cm
Total length: up to ~18–20 cm
Weight: approximately 10–20 g

Identification:
A small, smooth-bodied lizard with a streamlined, fish-like shape adapted for moving through sand. Coloration is typically pale sandy beige to golden, sometimes with faint darker shading along the back. The scales are smooth and shiny, reducing friction while “swimming” through sand. The head is slightly wedge-shaped, and the eyes are protected by transparent eyelids, an adaptation for life beneath the الرمال.

Habitat:
Sandy deserts and dune systems across the Arabian Peninsula. Prefers loose, fine الرمال where it can easily burrow and move beneath the surface. Common in open desert areas with minimal vegetation.

Status in the UAE:
Native and locally common in suitable sandy habitats. Frequently overlooked due to its burrowing and secretive behavior.

Diet:
Carnivorous (insectivorous) — feeds mainly on ants, termites, beetles, and other small arthropods found within or just beneath the sand.

Behavior:
Primarily diurnal but most active during cooler periods such as early morning and late afternoon. Spends much of the day buried beneath the sand to avoid heat. Moves using rapid lateral undulations, effectively “swimming” through sand. Emerges briefly to hunt, then quickly disappears beneath the surface. Relies on camouflage, speed, and sand-swimming ability to evade predators.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)